insights When should you start looking for a student placement?

Placements are a pretty popular option for students who are thinking about their future career path. They may be an essential part of your degree or entirely optional and they usually happen between your second and final year of study. 

In some institutions, doing a placement can count towards your final grade.

Work placements for students bring a whole host of benefits by helping you expand your professional network, get a taste of the real working world, and enrich your experiences as part of your overall career journey. 

At AtkinsRéalis, we offer two types of placements designed to help you discover more about life here and get a head start in your career. You’ll join the people discovering new ways to answer the world’s biggest challenges.

Aside from what you can get out of a student placement, you might be wondering about the logistics of it all, how does the application and selection process work and when should you begin your search? Well, read on to find out more.

When should you start looking for a student placement?

Summer placements

If you’re looking for a summer placement, it’s vital to note that these last a minimum of 8 weeks and are typically taken in your summer holiday between academic years. They span from June to August.

Summer placements are a great opportunity to test-drive your future career path. These kinds of placements are temporary, full-time opportunities that allow you to get a real feel for your career passions without interfering with your academic studies. 

Keep an eye on the organizations that interest you and make sure to check out their website and social media pages to stay in the loop about when summer placements are available. 

Typically, the larger the organization the earlier the deadline for applications. It’s good practice to begin looking for summer placements a year before you would start. At AtkinsRéalis our placements open for applications in Autumn, make sure to add a reminder to your calendar so you're prepared in advance for this.

Industrial placements

As with every point in your career, the best advice here is to always think a year ahead.

As we mentioned with summer placements, many companies start advertising their placements a year in advance so it’s a good idea to get your applications in early on. 

Many organizations open their applications for placements in the Autumn term but depending on the company size or industry, some companies might operate at different recruitment timelines. 

So, if you miss out on Autumn term deadlines, consider smaller employers who may accept applications only a few months before the start date and much later in the academic year. 

Working for a smaller organization still brings opportunities and chances for development, you can build closer connections with your team and gain a comprehensive understanding of the business. It also doesn’t stop you from working with a larger company in the future.

If you are weighing up what kind of industrial placement is a good fit for you, consider taking a careers quiz to get a better idea.

FAQS

How hard is it to find a placement?

Work placements for students can be quite competitive to get into. Formal interviews and assessments can also take up a lot of preparation time, so carefully consider your availability and what you have time to dedicate to.

But don’t let that deter you - if you don’t make it on to your chosen placement, look into similar roles in different companies.

And if you don’t make it onto the industrial placement you’ve been considering, you can of course still apply to join a Graduate Programme after university at a company you’ve got your eye on.

What happens if you can’t find a placement year?

If you can’t find a placement year try not to worry about it too much.

You can still look into summer placements, work experience, internships, and voluntary work to boost your experience and enhance your CV or application. 

All of these areas can get you experience in your chosen field and get you one step closer to your dream career with a renowned company.

Take your future career further with placements at AtkinsRéalis

We’re proud of the work we do and that we are an employer of choice. 

When you join us on your placement, whether just for the summer or for the year, you’ll be surrounded by expertise and have the support and trust of leaders as you grow and develop.

Our placements are open for application in the Autumn. In the meantime, why not join our Talent Community to receive emails with tips and advice?